1
‘Might just catch them out’: Crusaders set for ‘must-win’ Rebels clash
Former All Black Mils Muliaina has labelled the Crusaders’ clash with the Melbourne Rebels as a “must-win” as the defending champions look to remain in the race for a spot in the playoffs.
ADVERTISEMENT
Following a tough two-game road trip across the ditch, which saw them lose to the Waratahs and Western Force, the Crusaders have returned home for their most important match of the season.
The Crusaders, who currently sit last on the Super Rugby Pacific table with just one win from eight matches to date, will take on the high-flying Rebels at Apollo Projects Stadium this week.
With the Crusaders currently six points out of the top eight, another defeat could spark disaster for a New Zealand side that’s traditionally used to controlling the narrative at the other end of the table.
“You’ve got to remember the last outing they had at home they beat a top outfit (in the Chiefs),” the Rugby World Cup-winning All Black said on Stan Sports’ The Call Up.
“This is a different side… often when you get teams under pressure as they are at the bottom of the table, they tend to chase and work a lot harder. You often hear the phrase, ‘You’re working too hard than what you should be.’
“That might just catch them out, the fact that they’re overthinking things on defence.
‘The biggest issue at the moment is they are scoring tries, you see Sevu Reece playing very well, but they’re really leaking points.
ADVERTISEMENT
“Will home advantage play a big factor? You’d love to think so as a Crusaders fan but given the points they’ve leaked in these last few weeks, there’s worrying signs there at the moment for the Crusaders camp.”
Head-to-Head
Last 5 Meetings
Wins
5
Draws
0
Wins
0
Average Points scored
52
16
First try wins
100%
Home team wins
40%
While the Crusaders have struggled on matchday, there’s no denying the reigning champions have also had to do it the hard way with big-name players going down with injuries.
All Black Tamati Williams was injured in the opening match of the season, and British & Irish Lions great Leigh Halfpenny was sidelined after picking up a blow during a pre-season clash with Munster.
The Crusaders have looked to navigate through these injury challenges without much success, with their only win of the season to date coming against the Chiefs at home on March 29.
ADVERTISEMENT
But in a boost, coach Rob Penney has welcomed Scott Barrett back to the run-on side, and David Havili will come off the bench. The Crusaders have made seven changes to their starting side in total.
These changes, as Crusaders fans will hope, could make a positive difference for the struggling rugby team on Friday night. But win or lose, Muliaina believes the Crusaders should stick with their coach.
“Oh, huge pressure. I think that’s been the talking point a lot,” Muliaina added when asked about Rob Penney. “I’m probably a believer in the fact that you’ve got to stick with him.
“They’re now far off the top eight (but) they’ve got to win the next two. This game here for them, it’s a must-win if they want to make that eight.
“The Rebels are in the top four and it’s a chance for the Crusaders to just stay intact.
“Scott Barrett will bring that influence and hopefully they will have a big crowd that they’ve been used to when they have been winning.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Ben Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
19 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
7 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
19 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
9 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
9 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
26 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
19 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
26 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
19 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
86 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
3 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
9 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
19 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
14 Go to comments